Sunday, June 27, 2010
In Preparation for the coming reviews...
Vidgama compares Mass Effect and Star Control 2. This was going to be an angle I took, but it appears this has been done already.
Upcoming Reviews
In true Late to the Game fashion, I'm downloading games that have been out awhile, and reviewing them only after finishing.
What to expect in the near future:
Mass Effect
I recently downloaded and finished this game. At the moment, I'm replaying the game in two different classes and paths, so I can provide a well-rounded review of it.
Star Control 2
There were plenty of similarities between Mass Effect and Star Control 2, and so I felt compelled to write this review. I'll be taking a critical look at where it stands then and how it stands up today. Full disclosure, though - this is my all-time favorite game.
Still to come:
Batman: Arkham Asylum
I've barely managed to finish the first hour or so of this game. While I was initially unimpressed, most people told me to get to scarecrow first. Well, I got to him. I will beat this game before posting a review. Don't expect the usual fanfare.
Mass Effect 2
After finishing the first, I had to continue the journey. So far, I'm impressed. It remains buggy on my system, and yet I'm enjoying it.
Knights of the Old Republic
This is the game that inspired me to give Mass Effect a serious look, and a classic. I'll talk about its advantages and its limitations. How does it hold up?
Fallout 1, 2, and 3
Having played and beat all three (not including DLC), this is a long time coming. How does the reboot (3) compare to the first 2?
Deus Ex
The ultimate multi-path game, Deus Ex is remembered fondly as a classic First Person Shooter/Action-RPG (the FPRPS, as I've heard it called), which is now an emerging genre.
Back to the Future:
Bioshock 1 & 2
These games are well regarded, but never initially appealed to me. It's now of interest.
System Shock 1 & 2
And speaking of, the series of games that 2K developed before Bioshock, the spiritual beginnings.
I still need to find and download these games. Any leads would be helpful.
What to expect in the near future:
Mass Effect
I recently downloaded and finished this game. At the moment, I'm replaying the game in two different classes and paths, so I can provide a well-rounded review of it.
Star Control 2
There were plenty of similarities between Mass Effect and Star Control 2, and so I felt compelled to write this review. I'll be taking a critical look at where it stands then and how it stands up today. Full disclosure, though - this is my all-time favorite game.
Still to come:
Batman: Arkham Asylum
I've barely managed to finish the first hour or so of this game. While I was initially unimpressed, most people told me to get to scarecrow first. Well, I got to him. I will beat this game before posting a review. Don't expect the usual fanfare.
Mass Effect 2
After finishing the first, I had to continue the journey. So far, I'm impressed. It remains buggy on my system, and yet I'm enjoying it.
Knights of the Old Republic
This is the game that inspired me to give Mass Effect a serious look, and a classic. I'll talk about its advantages and its limitations. How does it hold up?
Fallout 1, 2, and 3
Having played and beat all three (not including DLC), this is a long time coming. How does the reboot (3) compare to the first 2?
Deus Ex
The ultimate multi-path game, Deus Ex is remembered fondly as a classic First Person Shooter/Action-RPG (the FPRPS, as I've heard it called), which is now an emerging genre.
Back to the Future:
Bioshock 1 & 2
These games are well regarded, but never initially appealed to me. It's now of interest.
System Shock 1 & 2
And speaking of, the series of games that 2K developed before Bioshock, the spiritual beginnings.
I still need to find and download these games. Any leads would be helpful.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Mass Effect 1: Death of a Marine (SPOILER)
I hope to get a more formal post, soon, but this would be a good sample of what it is this blog is taking aim at. I'm playing Mass Effect 1 at the moment, yes, late to the game, and I hit the "Sophie's Choice" scenario. What I find interesting is that a) I made my decision, rather quickly, based solely on gameplay mechanics, and b) I had an emotional reaction to the outcome.
SPOILER
At a certain point in the game, you're asked to make a choice. Save one character or another, and you do not have the power to save both. One is setting a bomb for a suicide mission, the other is being overwhelmed by geth. It really doesn't matter where you assign them in the beginning because the choice will still come up in the end.
I chose Ashley because I'd spent considerable time developing Ashley as a romantic interest. There was also a somewhat strategic decision, as I needed a character with weapon expertise to keep around over biotics and tech ability. Someone superior to Garrus and Wrex, in effect. Story wise this also made sense, though I admit I surprisingly didn't spend much time thinking about that.
Kaidan Alenko is, unfortunately, Kaidan. While he was the senior member of the crew, my character, Max, and I has only known him for the length of the game itself. I also figured that I could finally get his migraines to stop. You see, unlike Ash, there wasn't too much to Kaidan outside of some sort of angst that existed soley as a backstory. I took him along on biotic themed missions, and still, no commentary, no connection was made to this brother in arms. To me, at the time, he was just a gameplay mechanic.
The choice was made, I went back to Ashley and a boss fight with Saren himself. One that felt pretty epic. The consequences were interesting. I angered Ashley when I picked her over Kaiden, and she calmed down quickly when I let her know that it wasn't a fair choice no matter what I did.
Then, after the conference, I ran out the conference room, turned around and went downstairs to do my usual round of character discussion.
And there was no Kaidan. None. He was gone. No longer in that spot doing, well, whatever it is he does when he's on the ship.
And I felt it.
There's something to that. I, as Max Shepherd, made a decision, and the consequence of that decision was right there beside me. No longer do I talk to the man. I can't ask for his advice and assessment of the situation. I can't talk to him about his much belabored backstory.
Goodbye Kaidan, you will be missed.
SPOILER
At a certain point in the game, you're asked to make a choice. Save one character or another, and you do not have the power to save both. One is setting a bomb for a suicide mission, the other is being overwhelmed by geth. It really doesn't matter where you assign them in the beginning because the choice will still come up in the end.
I chose Ashley because I'd spent considerable time developing Ashley as a romantic interest. There was also a somewhat strategic decision, as I needed a character with weapon expertise to keep around over biotics and tech ability. Someone superior to Garrus and Wrex, in effect. Story wise this also made sense, though I admit I surprisingly didn't spend much time thinking about that.
Kaidan Alenko is, unfortunately, Kaidan. While he was the senior member of the crew, my character, Max, and I has only known him for the length of the game itself. I also figured that I could finally get his migraines to stop. You see, unlike Ash, there wasn't too much to Kaidan outside of some sort of angst that existed soley as a backstory. I took him along on biotic themed missions, and still, no commentary, no connection was made to this brother in arms. To me, at the time, he was just a gameplay mechanic.
The choice was made, I went back to Ashley and a boss fight with Saren himself. One that felt pretty epic. The consequences were interesting. I angered Ashley when I picked her over Kaiden, and she calmed down quickly when I let her know that it wasn't a fair choice no matter what I did.
Then, after the conference, I ran out the conference room, turned around and went downstairs to do my usual round of character discussion.
And there was no Kaidan. None. He was gone. No longer in that spot doing, well, whatever it is he does when he's on the ship.
And I felt it.
There's something to that. I, as Max Shepherd, made a decision, and the consequence of that decision was right there beside me. No longer do I talk to the man. I can't ask for his advice and assessment of the situation. I can't talk to him about his much belabored backstory.
Goodbye Kaidan, you will be missed.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Vulnerability to Violent Video Games: A Review and Integration of Personality Research - Powered by Google Docs
"It appears that Violent Video Games only adversely affect some individual and those who are affected have a preexisting disposition (i.e., high neuroticism, low agreeableness, and low conscientiousness) which make them susceptible to such violent media."
Vulnerability to Violent Video Games: A Review and Integration of Personality Research - Powered by Google Docs
Vulnerability to Violent Video Games: A Review and Integration of Personality Research - Powered by Google Docs
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Introduction to LTTG
Hello World, again.
I have a PC, and it sucks. It turns out this limits me to games made within certain periods, which I'm fine with since they tend to be cheaper. So, here, will be reviews and discussions of a bygone era (read 2 years ago).
Stay tuned for more.
I have a PC, and it sucks. It turns out this limits me to games made within certain periods, which I'm fine with since they tend to be cheaper. So, here, will be reviews and discussions of a bygone era (read 2 years ago).
Stay tuned for more.
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